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'I got hate mail': Vietnam veteran, wife remember hardships during Veterans Day celebrations

Even though it was thankless, one Vietnam veteran and his wife still say they are thankful.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — While many people use Veteran’s Day as a reminder to thank a veteran in their lives, there are some veterans who aren’t used to hearing those two words: "Thank you."

On Monday, Everleigh Deerfield, a community in Alpharetta, hosted a "Saluting Our Veterans" event. It honored residents who served, like Peter West.

West enlisted in the Air Force when he turned 18.

“I was in the Air Force 20 years, six months, and four days,” he said with a smile.

He was deployed multiple times.

“Germany first, England, the Philippines, two in Vietnam,” he said as he went on to list more places.

He met his wife, Barbara, on a blind date when he was back in the States.

“We went out on a date, and we became friends. And then we got married,” the two laughed as they recalled their first years together.

Credit: Molly Oak/WXIA

Three months after they married, Peter was deployed.

He looks back at his time serving with fondness and pride, even though he wasn’t always met with that same sentiment.

“The first time I went to church with Barbara and her parents. We were just engaged. And the minister just started bad-mouthing Vietnam vets,” Peter said.

“Called them baby killers,” Barbara added.

“I was between a rock and a hard spot because I wanted to get up and leave, but I couldn’t do that to my future in-laws. They didn’t really know me that well, so I just shut up. But it was really tough to do that,” he remembered.

While Peter was deployed, Barbara said she also experienced negative interactions.

“I got hate mail because he was in Southeast Asia,” she said.

Peter said he was in the Air Force for 10 years before he was deployed to Vietnam. Even though it was thankless, Peter still says he is thankful.

“It was probably one of the most satisfying jobs I ever had because it was something I trained for but never really expected to happen. And I felt prouder when I did,” Peter said.

11Alive asked Peter what it’s like to now receive “thank you’s."

Credit: WXIA

“When you don’t get something, you don’t know about it,” Peter said. “And then when you started hearing 'Thank you for your service,' it kind of hit home.”

“It’s wonderful. It’s wonderful,” Barbara added. “That everybody appreciates what all the men and women have done.”

Peter remembers telling Barbara that his country and the Air Force would come first.

“It never became a factor, though,” Barbara said, laughing.

The couple is coming up on their 57th year of marriage in January.

Peter said joining the Air Force is the second-best decision he’s ever made. His first: marrying Barbara.

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